Proximity switch having differential contact surface

ABSTRACT

A proximity switch assembly and method for activating a proximity switch is provided. The assembly includes a proximity sensor generating a signal, and a contact surface proximate to the proximity sensor and having a differential elevation change feature. The proximity switch also includes control circuitry processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the activation signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface. The control circuitry detects activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold. Activation can further be determined based on a stable signal.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to switches, and more particularly relates to proximity switches having an enhanced determination of switch activation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive vehicles are typically equipped with various user actuatable switches, such as switches for operating devices including powered windows, headlights, windshield wipers, moonroofs or sunroofs, interior lighting, radio and infotainment devices, and various other devices. Generally, these types of switches need to be actuated by a user in order to activate or deactivate a device or perform some type of control function. Proximity switches, such as capacitive switches, employ one or more proximity sensors to generate a sense activation field and sense changes to the activation field indicative of user actuation of the switch, typically caused by a user's finger in close proximity or contact with the sensor. Capacitive switches are typically configured to detect user actuation of the switch based on comparison of the sense activation field to a threshold.

Switch assemblies often employ a plurality of capacitive switches in close proximity to one another and generally require that a user select a single desired capacitive switch to perform the intended operation. In some applications, such as use in an automobile, the driver of the vehicle has limited ability to view the switches due to driver distraction. In such applications, it is desirable to allow the user to explore the switch assembly for a specific button while avoiding a premature determination of switch activation. Thus, it is desirable to discriminate whether the user intends to activate a switch, or is simply exploring for a specific switch button while focusing on a higher priority task, such as driving, or has no intent to activate a switch. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide for a proximity switch arrangement which enhances the use of proximity switches by a person, such as a driver of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a proximity switch is provided. The proximity switch includes a proximity sensor generating a signal. The proximity switch also includes a contact surface proximate to the proximity sensor and having a differential elevation change feature. The proximity switch further includes control circuitry processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface. The control circuitry detects activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of activating a proximity switch is provided. The method includes the step of providing a proximity sensor generating a signal. The method also includes the steps of providing a contact surface having a differential elevation change feature proximate to the proximity sensor and processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface. The method further includes the step of detecting activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present invention will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle having an overhead console employing a proximity switch assembly, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the overhead console and proximity switch assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through line III-III in FIG. 2 showing an array of proximity switches in relation to a user's finger;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a capacitive sensor employed in each of the capacitive switches shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the proximity switch assembly, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the capacitive switches having a contact surface with a differential elevation change feature, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a capacitive sensor having a contact surface with a differential elevation change feature, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through line IX-IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the signal associated with a proximity switch as a user slides a finger across the sensor in an exploration mode;

FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating a signal associated with the proximity switch when a user performs a hard press of the switch; and

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine for activating a proximity switch having a differential elevation change feature, according to one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to a detailed design; some schematics may be exaggerated or minimized to show function overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the interior of an automotive vehicle 10 is generally illustrated having a passenger compartment and a switch assembly 20 employing a plurality of proximity switches 22 having switch activation monitoring and determination, according to one embodiment. The vehicle 10 generally includes an overhead console 12 assembled to the headliner on the underside of the roof or ceiling at the top of the vehicle passenger compartment, generally above the front passenger seating area. The switch assembly 20 has a plurality of proximity switches 22 arranged close to one another in the overhead console 12, according to one embodiment. The various proximity switches 22 may control any of a number of vehicle devices and functions, such as controlling movement of a sunroof or moonroof 16, controlling movement of a moonroof shade 18, controlling activation of one or more lighting devices such as interior map/reading and dome lights 30, and various other devices and functions. However, it should be appreciated that the proximity switches 22 may be located elsewhere on the vehicle 10, such as in the dash panel, on other consoles such as a center console, on a door, integrated into a touch screen display 14 for a radio or infotainment system such as a navigation and/or audio display, or located elsewhere onboard the vehicle 10 according to various vehicle applications.

The proximity switches 22 are shown and described herein as capacitive switches, according to one embodiment. Each proximity switch 22 includes at least one proximity sensor that provides a sense activation field to sense contact or close proximity (e.g., within one millimeter) of a user in relation to the one or more proximity sensors, such as a swiping motion by a user's finger. Thus, the sense activation field of each proximity switch 22 is a capacitive field in the exemplary embodiment and the user's finger has electrical conductivity and dielectric properties that cause a change or disturbance in the sense activation field as should be evident to those skilled in the art. However, it should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additional or alternative types of proximity sensors can be used, such as, but not limited to, inductive sensors, optical sensors, temperatures sensors, resistive sensors, the like, or a combination thereof. Exemplary proximity sensors are described in the Apr. 9, 2009, ATMEL® Touch Sensors Design Guide, 10620 D-AT42-04/09, the entire reference hereby being incorporated herein by reference.

The proximity switches 22 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 each provide control of a vehicle component or device or provide a designated control function. One or more of the proximity switches 22 may be dedicated to controlling movement of a sunroof or moonroof 16 so as to cause the moonroof 16 to move in an open or closed direction, tilt the moonroof, or stop movement of the moonroof based upon a control algorithm. One or more other proximity switches 22 may be dedicated to controlling movement of a moonroof shade 18 between open and closed positions. Each of the moonroof 16 and shade 18 may be actuated by an electric motor in response to actuation of the corresponding proximity switch 22. Other proximity switches 22 may be dedicated to controlling other devices, such as turning an interior map/reading light 30 on, turning an interior map/reading light 30 off, turning a dome lamp on or off, unlocking a trunk, opening a rear hatch, or defeating a door light switch. Additional controls via the proximity switches 22 may include actuating door power windows up and down. Various other vehicle controls may be controlled by way of the proximity switches 22 described herein.

Referring to FIG. 3, a portion of the proximity switch assembly 20 is illustrated having an array of three serially arranged proximity switches 22 in close relation to one another in relation to a user's finger 34 during use of the switch assembly 20. Each proximity switch 22 includes one or more proximity sensors 24 for generating a sense activation field. The proximity sensors 24 may be formed on the top surface polymeric overhead console which is opposite the bottom side contact surface. The bottom side of the overhead console 12 has a contact surface for each switch 24 which includes a differential elevation change feature, shown as a ring-shaped trough in one embodiment. Each switch 22 is also shown having a lighting device 70 shown located on the top surface for backlighting each switch 22.

According to one embodiment, each of the proximity sensors 24 may be formed by printing conductive ink onto the top surface of the polymeric overhead console 12. One example of a printed ink proximity sensor 24 is shown in FIG. 4 generally having a drive electrode 26 and a receive electrode 28 each having interdigitated fingers for generating a capacitive field 32. It should be appreciated that each of the proximity sensors 24 may be otherwise formed such as by assembling a preformed conductive circuit trace onto a substrate according to other embodiments. The drive electrode 26 receives square wave drive pulses applied at voltage V_(I). The receive electrode 28 has an output for generating an output voltage V_(O). It should be appreciated that the electrodes 26 and 28 may be arranged in various other configurations for generating the capacitive field as the activation field 32.

In the embodiment shown and described herein, the drive electrode 26 of each proximity sensor 24 is applied with voltage input V_(I) as square wave pulses having a charge pulse cycle sufficient to charge the receive electrode 28 to a desired voltage. The receive electrode 28 thereby serve as a measurement electrode. In the embodiment shown, adjacent sense activation fields 32 generated by adjacent proximity switches 22 overlap slightly, however, overlap may not exist according to other embodiments. When a user or operator, such as the user's finger 34, enters an activation field 32, the proximity switch assembly 20 detects the disturbance caused by the finger 34 to the activation field 32 and determines whether the disturbance is sufficient to activate the corresponding proximity switch 22. The disturbance of the activation field 32 is detected by processing the charge pulse signal associated with the corresponding signal channel. When the user's finger 34 contacts two activation fields 32, the proximity switch assembly 20 detects the disturbance of both contacted activation fields 32 via separate signal channels. Each proximity switch 22 has its own dedicated signal channel generating charge pulse counts which is processed as discussed herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, the proximity switch assembly 20 is illustrated according to one embodiment. A plurality of proximity sensors 24 are shown providing inputs to a controller 40, such as a microcontroller. The controller 40 may include control circuitry, such as a microprocessor 42 and memory 48. The control circuitry may include sense control circuitry processing the activation field signal of each sensor 22 to sense user activation of the corresponding switch by comparing the activation field signal to one or more thresholds pursuant to one or more control routines. It should be appreciated that other analog and/or digital control circuitry may be employed to process each activation field signal, determine user activation, and initiate an action. The controller 40 may employ a QMatrix acquisition method available by ATMEL®, according to one embodiment. The ATMEL acquisition method employs a WINDOWS® host C/C++ compiler and debugger WinAVR to simplify development and testing the utility Hawkeye that allows monitoring in real-time the internal state of critical variables in the software as well as collecting logs of data for post-processing.

The controller 40 provides an output signal to one or more devices that are configured to perform dedicated actions responsive to detected activation of a proximity switch. For example, the one or more devices may include a moonroof 16 having a motor to move the moonroof panel between open and closed and tilt positions, a moonroof shade 18 that moves between open and closed positions, and lighting devices 30 that may be turned on and off. Other devices may be controlled such as a radio for performing on and off functions, volume control, scanning, and other types of devices for performing other dedicated functions. One of the proximity switches 22 may be dedicated to actuating the moonroof closed, another proximity switch 22 may be dedicated to actuating the moonroof open, and a further switch 22 may be dedicated to actuating the moonroof to a tilt position, all of which would cause a motor to move the moonroof to a desired position. The moonroof shade 18 may be opened in response to one proximity switch 22 and may be closed responsive to another proximity switch 22.

The controller 40 is further shown having an analog to digital (A/D) comparator 44 coupled to the microprocessor 42. The A/D comparator 44 receives the voltage output V_(O) from each of the proximity switches 22, converts the analog signal to a digital signal, and provides the digital signal to the microprocessor 42. Additionally, controller 40 includes a pulse counter 46 coupled to the microprocessor 42. The pulse counter 46 counts the charge signal pulses that are applied to each drive electrode of each proximity sensor, performs a count of the pulses needed to charge the capacitor until the voltage output V_(O) reaches a predetermined voltage, and provides the count to the microprocessor 42. The pulse count is indicative of the change in capacitance of the corresponding capacitive sensor. The controller 40 is further shown communicating with a pulse width modulated drive buffer 15. The controller 40 provides a pulse width modulated signal to the pulse width modulated drive buffer 15 to generate a square wave pulse train V_(I) which is applied to each drive electrode of each proximity sensor/switch 22. The controller 40 processes one or more control routines, shown including control routine 100 stored in memory to monitor and make a determination as to activation of one of the proximity switches.

The control routine 100 processes the various proximity switches 22 and perform a method of sensing user input on the sensors and determining activation of a proximity switch associated with the proximity switch assembly 20. The method includes the steps of generating an activation field with each of a plurality of proximity sensors, and detecting a signal from each of a plurality of proximity sensors associated with the proximity switches due to presence of a user. The method includes comparing the signal to a threshold and further processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface which has a differential elevation change feature. The method detects activation of the switch when the signal exceeds a threshold and the differential signal exceeds the differential threshold. The method further detects a substantially stable state of the signal following detection of the differential signal increase and activates the switch further based on the presence of a substantially stable state. The substantially stable state may be detecting that the signal is at a constant value for a time period of at least 100 milliseconds, according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, one of the proximity switches 22 is illustrated having a touch pad contact surface 50 shown on top of substrate 12 proximate to the proximity sensor. The contact surface 50 includes a differential elevation change feature which serves as a differential signal enhancement feature having a surface contour that allows skimming of the touch pad contact surface 50. In this embodiment, the capacitive switch 22 has the touch contact surface 50 formed on the interface side of substrate 12 with a ring-shaped recess or trough 52 as the differential elevation change feature which results in an isolated central disk 54. The trough 52 is a recess in the contact surface 50 that is lower in elevation as compared to the other portions of the contact surface 50. The trough 52 may be formed having rounded corners, as shown to allow smooth sliding of a user's finger across the contact surface 52. The trough 52 has a width sufficient to allow at least a portion of a user's finger to extend partway into the trough when the finger is hard pressed on contact surface 50 with an increased force. The proximity sensor 24 is provided proximate to the contact surface 50. In the embodiment shown, sensor 24 is located on substrate 12 on the opposite side of the contact surface 50 generally near the trough 52. As such, the contact surface 50 of the touch pad has a surface deviation that allows a user's finger to skim across the contact surface 50 during an exploration motion and allows the finger to be depressed on the touch pad such that the finger made up of flexible tissue is allowed to penetrate into the trough 52 to increase the interaction with the sensed activation field which results in an increased differential signal. The ring-shaped trough 52 may have a width of one or two millimeters, according to one embodiment.

The contact surface is further shown having a backlight device 70 provided at the rear surface thereof. The backlight device 70 may be employed to light a central portion such as the central disk 54 to illuminate the touch pad and an icon 72. The backlight device 70 may include one or more LEDs. Shown included on the isolated disk 54 is an icon 72 in the form of an image indicator which may be indicative of the switch function. The backlight device 70 may illuminate the icon 72 such that the icon 72 is readily viewable by a user.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a proximity switch 22 is illustrated having a contact surface with a differential elevation change feature providing a differential signal enhancement feature according to a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the contact surface 50 is formed having a ring-shaped upstanding elevated surface 60. As a result, a circular depressed region 62 is formed inside of upstanding wall 60. The elevated surface feature 60 allows a user's finger to skim over the elevated ring-shaped portion 60 with little extension into the central region 62 during a normal exploration action. When an operator activates the switch 22 with a hard touch motion, the finger will extend into the open region 62 thereby increasing the interaction with the sense activation field associated with the sensor. The differential elevated surface change feature 60 may have a height of one to two millimeters and a diameter of about 5 to 20 millimeters, according to one embodiment.

While the differential elevation change feature shown and described herein includes a ring-shaped recess and elevated ring-shaped portion, it should be appreciated that other elevational changes in the contact surface may serve as the differential elevation change feature. For example, the differential elevation change feature may include other shapes and sizes extending outward or inward with respect to the touch pad contact surface 50. Additionally, complex multiple levels of elevational change may be employed according to further embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the change in sensor charge pulse counts shown as A sensor count for a signal associated with a proximity switch 22 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is illustrated according to one example. The change in sensor charge pulse count (Δ sensor count) is the difference between an initialized referenced count value without any finger or other object present in the activation field and the corresponding sensor reading. In this example, the user's finger enters the activation field 32 associated with the proximity switch 22 as the user's finger moves across the switch. The signal shown by solid line 80 is the change (Δ) in sensor charge pulse count associated with the corresponding capacitive sensor 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the proximity sensors 24 are capacitive sensors. When a user's finger is in contact with or close proximity of the sensor 24, the finger alters the capacitance measured at the corresponding sensor 24. The capacitance is in parallel to the untouched sensor pad parasitic capacitance, and as such, measures as an offset. The user or operator induced capacitance is proportional to the user's finger or other body part dielectric constant, the surface exposed to the capacitive pad, and is inversely proportional to the distance of the user's limb to the switch button. According to one embodiment, each sensor is excited with a train of voltage pulses via pulse width modulation (PWM) electronics until the sensor is charged up to a set voltage potential. Such an acquisition method charges the receive electrode to a known voltage potential. The cycle is repeated until the voltage across the measurement capacitor reaches a predetermined voltage. Placing a user's finger on the touch surface of the switch 22 introduces external capacitance that increases the amount of charge transferred each cycle, thereby reducing the total number of cycles required for the measurement capacitance to reach the predetermined voltage. The user's finger causes the change in sensor charge pulse count to increase since this value is based on the initialized reference count minus the sensor reading.

The proximity switch assembly 20 is able to recognize the user's hand motion when the hand, particularly a finger, is in close proximity to the proximity switch 22, to discriminate whether the intent of the user is to activate a switch 22, explore for a specific switch button while focusing on higher priority tasks, such as driving, or is the result of a task such as adjusting the rearview mirror that has nothing to do with actuation of a proximity switch 22. The proximity switch assembly 20 may operate in an exploration or hunting mode which enables the user to explore the touch sensor keypads or buttons of the switch assembly 20 by passing or sliding a finger in close proximity to the switches without triggering an activation of a switch until the user's intent is determined. The proximity switch assembly 20 monitors the amplitude of the signal generated in response to the activation field, compares the signal to a threshold, further detects a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface and detects activation of the switch based on the signal exceeding the threshold and the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold. As such, exploration of the proximity assembly is allowed, while activation is detected, such that users are free to explore the switch interface pad with their fingers without inadvertently triggering an event, the interface response time is fast, activation happens based on rate of change in the signal(s), and inadvertent activation of the switch is prevented or reduced. It should be appreciated that a signal associated with each switch is processed by the proximity switch assembly 20 to determine activation of the corresponding switch.

As shown in FIG. 10, as the user's finger 34 slides across the contact surface, the finger 34 enters the activation field associated with the sensor 24 which causes disruption of the capacitance, thereby resulting in a Δ sensor count increase as shown by signal 80 having an activation motion profile. The proximity switch assembly monitors the signal 80 and determines whether the operator intends to press a touch pad or button for activation of the current switch or explore the interface based on a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface associated with the switch. The system and method monitors when the signal 80 exceeds a threshold (THRESHOLD) count indicative of an active signal having a Δ sensor count value indicative of activity on a sensor greater than noise. As seen in FIG. 10, the Δ sensor count signal exceeds the threshold value for a period of time before decreasing, indicative of a sliding or exploration of the user's finger across the sensor.

Referring to FIG. 11, the signal 80 associated with a proximity switch is shown when a user's finger slides across the switch, stops and makes a hard press onto the switch contact surface. The signal 80 rises up above the threshold value, is shown having a stable time period t_(stable) has substantially constant value before rising up to a peak value labeled C_(peak) during the hard press. The difference in the signal rising from C_(base) to C_(peak) is the differential signal amplitude shown as C_(vb). The differential signal increase C_(vb) is indicative of a hard press by the user's finger on the contact surface in which the user's finger extends within the lower elevated open regions provided by the differential elevation change feature. When the differential signal increase exceeds a differential threshold, activation of the switch is detected.

Referring to FIG. 12, a routine 100 is illustrated for activating a proximity switch based on user interface with the switch. Method 100 begins at step 102 to acquire various signal channels associated with the plurality of the proximity switches of the proximity switch assembly. At step 104, routine 100 determines the maximum signal channel Ch. Routine 100 then proceeds to decision step 106 to determine if the maximum signal channel Ch is greater than a threshold and, if not, ends at step 118. If the maximum channel signal Ch is greater than the threshold value, routine 100 proceeds to decision step 108 to determine if the absolute value of the difference between the maximum channel Ch and the average signal channel Ch_avg is less than a stable value Ch_stable and, if not, ends at step 118. If the absolute value is less than Ch_stable, then routine 100 proceeds to step 110 to set Ch_base which establishes the base value for the differential signal calculation. Next, routine 100 proceeds to decision step 112 to determine if the difference in the value of Ch_peak minus Ch_base exceeds the differential threshold C_(vb) and, if not, ends at step 118. If the differential signal value has a difference between Ch_peak minus Ch_base is greater than the differential threshold C_(vb), routine 100 proceeds to decision step 114, to determine if the absolute value of Ch minus Ch_avg is less than Ch_stable and, if not, ends at step 118. If the absolute value is less than Ch_stable, routine 100 proceeds to step 116 to activate the switch.

Accordingly, the proximity switch assembly and method advantageously determines activation of the proximity switches based on a differential signal caused by a differential elevation change feature. The system and method advantageously allows for a user to explore the proximity switch pads which can be particularly useful in an automotive application where driver distraction can be avoided.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present invention, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise. 

We claim:
 1. A proximity switch comprising: a proximity sensor generating a signal; a contact surface proximate to the proximity sensor and comprising a differential elevation change feature; and control circuitry processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface, wherein the control circuitry detects activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold.
 2. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry compares the signal to a threshold and actives the switch when the signal exceeds the threshold and the differential signal exceeds the differential threshold.
 3. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry further detects a substantially stable state of the signal following detection of the differential signal increase and activates the switch based on the presence of the substantially stable state and the differential signal exceeding the differential threshold.
 4. The proximity switch of claim 3, wherein the substantially stable state comprises the signal being at a substantially constant value for a time period of at least 100 milliseconds.
 5. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the differential elevation change feature comprises a recessed region in the contact surface.
 6. The proximity switch of claim 5, wherein the recessed region comprises a ring-shaped trough.
 7. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the differential elevation change feature comprises an elevated member extending from the contact surface.
 8. The proximity switch of claim 7, wherein the elevated member comprises a ring-shaped member.
 9. The proximity switch of claim 1 further comprising a backlight located proximate to the contact surface.
 10. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.
 11. The proximity switch of claim 1, wherein the proximity switch is employed on a vehicle.
 12. A method of activating a proximity switch comprising: providing a proximity sensor generating a signal; providing a contact surface having a differential elevation change feature proximate to the proximity sensor; processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface; and detecting activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold.
 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of comparing the signal to a threshold and activating the switch when the signal exceeds the threshold and the differential signal exceeds the differential threshold.
 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of detecting a substantially stable state of the signal following detection of the differential signal increase and activating the switch based on the presence of the substantially stable state and the differential signal exceeding the differential threshold.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting a substantially stable state of the signal comprises detecting a substantially stable state of the signal at a substantially constant value for a time period of at least 100 milliseconds.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the differential elevation change feature comprises a recessed region in the contact surface.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the recessed region comprises a ring-shaped trough.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein the differential elevation change feature comprises an elevated member extending from a contact surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the elevated member comprises a ring-shaped member.
 20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of backlighting the contact surface.
 21. The method of claim 12, wherein the proximity sensor comprises a capacitive sensor.
 22. The method of claim 12, wherein the proximity switch is employed on a vehicle. 